Standing room only crowd cheers on local reality show singer

Amanda Llewellyn

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Prime Time is unique in its own right, a somewhat odd mixture of fine dining and friendly neighborhood sports bar. Each Wednesday, people arrive by the minute to experience the week's elimination show. The breakaway summer hit, Rock Star: Supernova, showcases vocalists who are competing to win a spot in rock star Tommy Lee's new band, Supernova.

Hometown girl Dilana, who, like Cher and Madonna, has chosen not to use a surname, was a regular performer at Prime Time before she auditioned for the show and moved to Hollywood.

The restaurant's general manager, Shawna Barrientez remembers how she first discovered the 34-year-old rocker.

"We had a piano player and she would just sing with him. She came in here, like, maybe once a week to eat, and one night she just started singing," Barrientez said. "People would turn around and watch her because she's just so amazing."

Barrientez admits that having a rock vocalist performing at a fine dining restaurant is unconventional to say the least.

"She brought in a different crowd than we're used to, but the old crowd stayed on too," Barrientez said. "Everyone that hears her loves her."

As the opening credits for the show scroll across Prime Time's big screen TV, a hush falls over the crowd gathered in the bar. People even shush one another. But at the first glimpse of Dilana, the crowd erupts in cheering and whooping. The sound reaches the separate area of the restaurant used for fine dining. Members of the wait staff smile.

No one seems to mind the racket.

"You should see what it's like in here on Tuesday nights when she actually performs [on the show]; there's standing room only," Barrientez said. "She actually used to perform in here on Tuesday's, so it's sort of a tradition that everyone comes here to watch Dilana on Tuesdays."

Barrientez said Dilana actually received the phone call telling her she had made it onto the show at Prime Time.

"She was jumping on tables and hugging everybody," Barrientez said. "It was great. We were all so happy for her."

Those that know her are adamant that Dilana is not only a great singer, but also one of the sweetest, most genuine people one could ever hope to meet.

"She's so great, but she is genuinely a good person," Barrientez said. "She really is as sincere as she seems. Maybe that's half the reason we're all rooting so hard for her. She's our girl."

Prime Time isn't worried about confusing newcomers who might stumble in and have no idea why people are holding "Dilana Rocks!" signs and wearing T-shirts that read, "Vote for Dilana."

Not that there's much room for anyone else anyway.

"We had so many people here last night that it was standing room only," Barrientez said. "We are going to have to open up the area beyond the big screen to make room for more people. It's just wild. We're buying a new TV."

Barrientez admits that even back when Dilana was performing at the steakhouse, it was obvious that she was destined for greatness.

"Everyone would crowd into this little place to hear her sing. And we all knew then that she was way too good to be here," she said.

Prime Time is just like a big family, Barrientez said.

"We enjoy being together and enjoying music. You can come and watch the show and have some dinner, maybe a drink. We are really relaxed here," she said. "And we support our own."

Prime Time Steakhouse's "Dilana Party" begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Barrientez said everyone is welcome to join the fun.

"It's such a good time," she said. "There's nothing like it around here."